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HEALTHY DIET MAY IMPROVE SLEEP QUALITY


A diet low in fiber and high in saturated fat and sugar is associated with lighter, less restorative sleep with more arousals, a new study has found. The researchers suggest that adjusting diet to include more fiber and less saturated fat and sugar may be useful in the management of sleep disorders.
"Our message is that a diet high in fiber and low in saturated fat and sugar is associated with better sleep patterns. For a good night's sleep we recommend increasing fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and eating less processed foods. That is a healthy diet in many other ways too particularly in terms of cardiovascular risk, so this is another reason to eat the right things."
The researchers did not study the mechanism behind these effects, but Dr St-Onge suggested that it could involve effects on circadian systems. "High carbohydrate intake delays circadian rhythms and reduces melatonin secretion, which would delay sleep onset. Hormones also come into play, as there is a heightened awareness of the reward value of food when sleep restricted. And when we are tired our decision making is not so disciplined, so we are more likely to give in to temptation to eat unhealthy food," she said.
The researchers acknowledge that further studies are needed to confirm their results. But if diet is found to play a causal role in sleep quality, then diet-based recommendations may be warranted for those who have sleep disorders, including insomnia, short sleep duration, and poor overall sleep quality.
"Increasing our understanding of the impact of dietary intake on nocturnal sleep will have many important and practical ramifications for public health," they conclude.
REFERENCE: DR SUE HUDGES, MEDSCAPE
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  1. Ankita28 August 2019 at 01:36

    Diet is very helpful for improving your sleep but the another way to cure sleeplessness problem is herbal supplements for insomnia. This will to relax your mind and help in deep sleep.

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